Skybus Flight Attendants

Every time I've flown Skybus, I have found the flight attendants do a fairly good job of keeping everyone entertained. Yes, they have quite different attitudes than your typical legacy carrier cabin worker, but in general, they are pleasant, and have always met our needs. And we always tip them, since they are working for a measly $9.00 bucks an hour. During this training video, they don't seem to mind the low wage, as they are all happy and smiling. I think I even recognize one of the trainees in this picture, the woman with the white shirt and light blue scarf.

Skybus Videos- How cool?

You Tube is absolutely loaded with videos about Skybus, and even from Skybus themselves. Check this one out:

Skybus now a "Struggling" Airline?

It is quite amazing how rosy and happy the Skybus story was up until about two weeks ago, when the first leaks showed difficult times ahead for the airline. First, routes were cut, and then, CEO Bill Diffenderffer resigned.

The Columbus Dispatch, whose owner also is invested in Skybus, is now categorizing the airline as struggling.

Today, word leaked out that the city of Melbourne, Florida, would love to have the airline land along the space coast. We'll see what Skybus will do, but don't count on seeing orange planes land and take off unless the city and airport ponies up some incentives for the start-up and now struggling carrier.

I'm amazed how gung-ho and happy we all were about Skybus less than a year ago. Now, I'm wondering if my future flights will be re-scheduled due to route changes, or even worse, dropped altogether!

Tom

Skybus Pilots to Unionize?

I'm a union member, and I can see why Skybus Pilots would want to unionize- They don't make much money compared to other pilots. If this does happen, look for ticket prices to go up, up, up.

From today's Columbus Dispatch-

"Skybus also faces a drive by its pilots to unionize, with a vote expected in the next month on possible representation by the Teamsters. Skybus pilots say they are paid significantly less than the industry average."

I don't doubt they are not paid very well, but these pilots began working with Skybus knowing full well what they were getting themselves into. Perhaps Skybus really is making money and they are just looking for a bigger piece of the pie? Only time will tell. Again, more signs that the Skybus honeymoon is over.

Tom

Skybus CEO Resigns

I Always looked as Bill Diffenderffer as Skybus's biggest cheerleader. Today, he resigned as CEO of the young airline, to be replaced by 35 year old Mike Hodge, who has been with the Airline since March 2007.

Has the Skybus honeymoon ended? I'd say that is a sure bet. Let's see where Mike takes the airline. I'll still continue to fly as long as they offer $10 and $35 fares.

Tom

Making Sense of the Skybus Route Changes

Clearly, the management team at Skybus is being realistic about the experiment that is Skybus. A ton of great people have put their money on the line (at least $160 million dollars of start up capital was raised, not to mention the tax breaks the airline has received across the country), and they are going to want to see a quick return on their investment.

The biggest changes for Columbus-

The Chattanooga flight is being dropped as of April 15. I guess I won't make it to the Tennessee Aquarium after all.

Niagra falls isn't in the mix- yet. The Niagra Gazette is saying that Skybus is merely delaying flights from CMH to this western New York location, but this may be wishful thinking. Service was to begin April 1st.

Also, the planned second daily flight from CMH to Milwaukee, scheduled to begin April 1st, will also be scrapped

And, a total of five flights a day are being eliminated from North Carolina's Piedmont's Triad airport that services the Greensboro area.

Beginning April 15, Skybus will stop serving New Orleans (really Gulfport-Biloxi), and in addition, only one flight per day will be offered to Stewart (NY), Wilmington (DE), Punta Gorda (FL), and Gary (IN). Gary service just started, so they really haven't even given that route a chance.

What Skybus does know is that people love flying to Florida. The planes that are removed from these routes will be now utilized to fly folks from Chicopee Massachusetts to both St. Augustine, and Punta Gorda, Florida. I look for those planes to be full once northeasterns realize just how cheaply they can get to the sunshine state. Service begins June 1st.

New service from Stewart (NY) to Portsmouth (NH), will also be added, at least through the summer, according to the Columbus Dispatch.

Finally, our friends in Richmond Virginia will be able to fly to St. Augustine beginning June 1. All in all, quite a few changes from our friends at Skybus.

The bottom line? Skybus is showing that its management team is realistic and will do whatever that needs to be done to make the experiment that is Skybus work AND make money.

Tom

Thousands of new $10 Fares

Have you purchased your $10.00 tickets yet? They are going fast!

Tom

Thoughts on Skybus

Megan and I are sitting in the Skybus waiting area as I write these words. We're headed to Punta Gorda Florida, where we'll be renting a car and then driving to Sanibel Island. We took advantage of Skybus waiving their $40 change fee, and instead of leaving yesterday during the blizzard event yesterday, we are flying out on this morning's 11:30 am flight. Our originally scheduled flight was able to get out yesterady, despite the blizzard conditions, however, I'm not sure that we would have been able to drive to the airport during the blizzard. 90% of all Port Columbus flights were canceled yesterday. We saw several people camped out, looking might tired. I just hope everyone is able to get home safely now that the snow has stopped.

Tom

Skybus Becomes #1 Airline at Port Columbus

Passenger figures are out for December 2007, and the Columbus Dispatch reports this evening that Skybus overtook Southwest as this City's #1 carrier in terms of passengers.

Congratulations Skybus, here is to continued growth.

Tom

Skybus Prepares for Tomorrow's Bad Weather

The Columbus Dispatch reports this evening that Skybus will waive their usual $40 change fee in anticipation of snowy and icy weather predicted at Port Columbus over the next 12 hours. If your travel plans are flexible, it may be worth a roll of the dice to get a different flight, especially if the price difference is negligible.

If your Skybus flight is canceled, each passenger gets a refund or booking on a future Skybus flight.

As of 8:48 Thursday evening, no flights have been scrubbed.

Delta, Midwest Drop Flights From Port Columbus

Although Skybus has increased Port Columbus' flying options, there have been casualties. As the Columbus Dispatch points out, Jet Blue left the airport after less than a year, and Delta dropped its non-stop flight from CMH to LAX. Now, Delta is dropping its non-stop to Ft. Lauderdale, and Midwest will stop direct service to Kansas City. Skybus serves both cities.

A few things about this move. I love Skybus. When I'm on vacation. If I'm traveling on business, I'd much rather take Midwest or Delta, especially since they have agreements with other airlines in case of cancellations or major screw ups. Skybus, unfortunately, does not offer such services.

Port Columbus has certainly gained a great deal from Skybus. It is unfortunate, however, that travelers here in town are losing choices, and in the long term, that is a losing situation for passengers.

Will Portsmouth be the Next Skybus Focus City?

I'd put my money on it. Megan and I frequently fly to Portsmouth, New Hampshire from Columbus and our flights are well booked.

USA Today in the sky has great insight about the Portsmouth Airport.

A planned $5 million expansion at the airport leads me to believe that Skybus will be flying in and out of Portland much more often come 2009.

Skybus Raises Baggage Fees from $5 to $12 Per Pag

Well, every new airline is an experiment, and Skybus is certainly no exception. I must tell you, Megan and have not minded paying the $5 per bag per flight charge, but now, the airline is increasing this cost to $12.00, according to the The Florida-Times Union. Checking the bag online will set you back only $10.00

The cost of priority boarding, which gets you onto the plane before everyone else, is also increasing, going from $10 to $12.50.

The airline cites rising fuel costs for the increased charges. Look for the new fee structure beginning in early March.

Will these changes affect your use of Skybus?

Tom

Skybus to Begin Flying to Cities other than Columbus!

This morning i received a Skybus e-mail announcing service from Portsmouth New Hampshire to Punta Gorda and Ft. Lauderdale. Service begins December 17th, and a quick search this morning revealed $10 tickets for every day in December.

Four New Skybus Destinations

This morning, Skybus added Milwaukee, Chattanooga, Gulfport-Biloxi, and Punta Gorda to their lineup. Plenty of $10 tickets available, beginning with flights on Decemeber 5th. Unfortunately, Skybus is still not selling any tickets beyond March 5th.

Have fun gobbling up those tickets!

Tom